Female Hair Loss Study
Rose*came to see Ashley and Martin because her thinning hair was severely impacting her self-esteem. She had started to turn down invitations to social functions due to the discomfort she felt about her hair loss. Before her hair started thinning her social calendar was full and she participated in many of the events in her retirement village.
Rose is not alone in feeling socially isolated and self-conscious because of her hair loss although statistically Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) is common in women over 40. According to the 2015 Female Hair Loss Impact Survey by LaserCap, anecdotal evidence from GPs points towards hair loss being a contributing factor in women suffering from low self-esteem, social isolation and this condition leading to a disruption in daily routine and working life.
Women’s hair loss generally tends to be less visible than men’s, however it appears that there are psychological factors at play leading to women most often describing their hair loss as ‘extreme’ or ‘moderate’. Differing from men’s hair loss in that it happens more gradually and is more diffuse throughout the scalp, approximately half the women surveyed did not feel FPHL was a natural part of the aging process. With 88% of women believing it is less socially acceptable for women to lose their hair than men, and 62% of women saying there was no age at which it was acceptable for a woman to lose her hair, it is no surprise that women like Rose are missing social engagements due to their insecurities.
Not limited to social isolation and a decrease in self-esteem, FPHL sufferers are finding their daily routines are being disrupted as a result. Understandably women are spending significantly more time on their appearance before going out to try and conceal their thinning hair. Thirty-five percent of women surveyed have been late to work or an appointment as a result of the increased time it takes to get ready.
Although most women have not experienced adverse effects on their career path, approximately one in seven women admits they feel less comfortable in their professional relationships with colleagues and management. This trend does not carry through to personal relationships however.
An overwhelming majority of women feel their hair loss will make them less attractive to men. The Female Hair Loss Impact Survey found that 63% of women said their hair loss made them feel less attractive with 33% of women feeling less attractive to their partner. Though a smaller number of women feel less attractive to their partners, overall it is society as a whole women feel are judging them for this completely natural process.
*name changed to protect privacy
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